French Guiana Things to Do

This is the only island that I could visit out of the three Devil Islands. But was enough and I saw the most interesting since the point of view of a tourist.The price was not expensive. I was not allowed to stay there for the night.IK did not feel comfortable when visiting the island, but I do not regret having been there.

Alfred Dreyfus (1859 - 1935) was the most prominent prisoner of Devils Island he was sent there beeing totally unguilty after an intrigue. Dreyfuss was a French artillery officer and he had a Jewish background. In 1894 he was accused of treason (Hochverrat). His case in now known as the "Dreyfuss Affair" and it was one of the most tense political...

According to the book "Papillon" he was the only prisoner, who ever was able to escaped the prison of Devils island: after various other attempts he finally had constructed a raft, built by coconuts that he put in a sack and he was able to be driven by the currants to the mainland that way, without beeing harmed by the sharks.Some people say, that...

Take a walk on Devils Island and you will get a good feeling for what it was like to be in prison on that island. The path around Devils island is done after maybe 30 minutes and here or there you will have a good view of the beach and some tiny islands closeby, but what does this help, when you know that there are hundreds of hungry sharks waiting...

DEVIL ISLAND - TEUFELSINSEL - ILES DU SALUTThese 3 different names stand for the same island that was used as a prison island for almost 100 years, between 1852 and 1946. The most prominent prisoner was Alfred Dreyfus, who was imprisoned here from 1895 till 1899.Another famous prisoner there was "Papillon", who obviously was able to escape the...

Its probably one of the reasons you want to come here.From taking a Pirogue down the Maroni to the Sacred Mountain, or going off into the jungle on an expedition, to watching the scarlet Ibis at the mouth of the Sinnamary river or looking for Caimans at night at Kaw nature reserve, the wildlife in French Guyana is stunning and unique.You don't have...

Camp de TransportationAt about 1848, it was decided that penal settlements in Guiana would reduce the cost of prisons in France and contribute to the development of the colony. Some 70,000 prisoners - including Alfred Dreyfus and Henri Papillon Charriere - arrived between 1852 and 1939. It was formerly the arrival point for these prisoners, who...

Saint Laurent du MaroniIt is a border town in north-west French Guiana. It is located on the Maroni River (Marowijne), opposite the town of Albina in Suriname which can be reached by ferry.It has many colonial buildings, a church, town hall and a rainforets information centre.

The space center conducts launches for the Europeans, and there is a visitor center. Call for reservations since part of the trip, for which there is a charge, takes place within a bus which goes to the launch pads.

The boat departs from Kourou and goest to the only island which can be visisted. Some of the buildings have been converted into a lodge and cafe. The former cells can be visited and a good tour, in Frnch, was available.

Visit Laotian-Thai Refugee Village at CacaoThis is an Asian transplant, with food and market, to South America. The drive from Cayenne to Cacao goes through true jungle and provides an opportunity to see undistrubed rain forest.

This is a collection of geological exhibits, original prisoner art work from the prison days, wildlife exhibits, and a very large buterfly collection, which is the only part of the exhibit which is in airconditoned space.

One cannot go to Guyane without understanding the history of Devil's Island, the maximum security of the three Islands utilized by the French as a penal colony.Isn't island living supposed to be wonderful?Read the book or see the movie. PAPILLON

If your are up to it, try to tie a trip like this in to an ecotourism package or get to know some of the locals and create one of your own. Just as a matter of personal opinion, I think that many travelers are just plain too lazy to use their own heads. Self reliance is becoming a lost art in an ever increasing dependence upon others to make things...